The podcast 99% Invisible gives a fascinating history of those inflatable dancing tube men commonly used in street-corner advertisements. Apparently, the figures have their origins in Caribbean art and the work of artist Peter Minshall.
According to the podcast:
Minshall worked with artist Doron Gazit on the design and they debuted the inflatable tube men during the opening ceremony of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Gazit later patented the design and licenses it to companies like Look Our Way. Modified versions of the inflatable tube men called Air Rangers are even marketed as highly effective scarecrows to protect crops.
1996. Huh. I could have sworn they’ve been around since the dawn of creation.
(via Laughing Squid)
And if you have an extra 10 hours to spend, check out this FABULOUS dance remix of the Family Guy’s “Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man.”
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